THE LUNAR ORBITER 2 MISSION

Mission Description

Launch:  6 November 1966
Imaged Moon:  18-25 November 1966
Apollo landing site survey mission

The primary objectives for this mission were to obtain detailed photographic information of various lunar areas, to assess their suitability as landing sites for Apollo and Surveyor spacecraft, and to improve our knowledge of the Moon. Secondary objectives were to provide precision trajectory information for use in improving the definition of the lunar gravitational field and to provide measurements of micrometeorite flux and radiation dose in the lunar environment. All mission objectives were met on this mission with a total of 211 photographs taken in 40 orbits of the Moon. Some photographs were not transmitted, however, when the transmitting equipment failed during the readout operation. Only a small number of pictures were lost and other data collection was not affected. Lunar Orbiter 2 made significant additions to the techniques and data required to land on the Moon and return safely.

Selection of the Target Sites

The objectives and ground rules for this mission stipulated that the primary sites to be photographed have the potential of being acceptable Apollo landing sites according to location, topography, and soil mechanics. Lunar Orbiter 2 sites were located along a northern latitude band within the Apollo zone. The final site selection included 13 primary sites and 17 secondary sites, with some of the latter on the lunar farside.